Topic: Private Sector Access to Outer Space
Country: Burundi
Delegate Name: Anish Premkumar
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Burundi position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Since the first artificial satellite released in space on October 4, 1957 by the want to enter space has spread internationally. As more countries join the space travel, the UN, more specifically, the SciTech committee is pressured to pass regulations monitoring the rules of space. The United nations committee on the peaceful uses of outer space (COPUOS) was founded "to review the scope of international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, to devise programes in this field to be undertaken under United Nations auspices, to encourage continued research and the dissemination of information on outer space matters, and to study legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space". They also regulate the implementation of the five UN treaties and agreements regarding outer space. The innovations in technology in the recent years has started to allow not only government agencies into outer space, but also private companies and personnel. Laws and treaties regarding the introduction of private sectors to outer space must be discussed and created to address this increased interest in space. Burundi supports private sector access to outer space and believes in peace and cooperation regarding the access to space between all parties.
Burundi is one of the world's poorest countries, with one of the least developed space programs in the world. Not only does it not have an agency, but also no infrastructure in which one would arise. Its has no scientific university and the government has no ministry devoted to science of this type. Burundi’s space program was established in 23 March 2012 with a goal to launch 10 satellites by 2017. As of now, they have five satellites in space.Burundi has signed three bilateral cooperations with France, Ukraine, Russia, China, United Kingdom, Germany, India, Syria, Argentina, and South Africa. Burundi has signed the agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), the Agreement of the Arab Corporation for Space Communications (ARABSAT), and other treatises devoted to protecting and regulating the use of space for communications and commerce. With the introduction of the private sector to space, we bring forth the issue of making sure the new laws work in unity with these prior treaties.
Burundi believes that outer space should be opened to anyone who wishes to access it. Treaties and agreements must be created that addresses specifically non-government agencies rules in space. With technology growing at a rapid rate, we must decide on a course of action regarding private companies and personnel entering space. Allowing non-government agencies into space bring forth issues regarding safety and security for all who enter space. There must be a balance between the growth of technological and economic development while keeping safety and security prevalent. The future of space travel is starting, and it is up to the actions of this committee to determine which direction space cooperation will go.
